The Event: How Did the NBC Series Do Last Night?

by Trevor Kimball, March 8, 2011

Yesterday, we detailed how The Event had been performing prior to its 13 week hiatus and that it would have an uphill battle to survive. How did it do last night?

Sadly, but as expected, The Event’s return was a disappointment and registered similar numbers to (all-but-officially-cancelled) The Cape. According to the early numbers, both Event episodes scored a meager 1.4 rating in the all-important 18-49 demographic. That’s a loss of 26% from the last original episode in late November which registered a 1.9 rating.

These new episode ratings bring The Event’sseason average down to a 2.1 rating and the average will keep falling as the weeks progress — unless the series starts performing like it did back in October. Doesn’t seem very likely, does it? There are 10 episodes left.

What do you think? Are last night’s ratings as good as they’re going to get? Do you think The Event has a chance?

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huge fan of the event. something different than reality competition shows. I’ve seen reruns on syfy – hopefully they pick it up if nbc drops it. the fans will follow and it would probably help out their terrible network.

I love this show, and from what I can tell, there’s only one thing wrong with it: it’s a more complicated, dialogue-heavy version of ABC’s V. Which isn’t bad, except for one thing: the people who like their alien conspiracies simple and action-packed are skipping The Event and sticking with V. At least that’s the impression I’m getting from all the negative press. I happily watch both, though if they came on at the same time, I’d pick V, both because I like it better and because it isn’t On Demand.

What is the real problem here? The executives? The program is of one todays best. We want good television with the Event we have it… The news for our country and others is so bad. Please let us look at something that will take our minds to another place for one hour… I just do not get it…

I love event. I hope we get another season of it… I think it did so poorly the other night because there was no advertising for it’s return… I mean if I didnt have it scheduled to record any and all new episodes of the event on my DVR I would have missed it… That is NBC ‘s fault. They do no advertising it’s like they just give up or else it’s pure laziness… I mean look at V it had a looooong break but they promoted and advertised it’s return for months before. Come on NBC you have to… Read more »

This show is one of the few (like Fringe) that keeps my heart racing. I agree, the break was w-a-y too long! What is NBC thinking? This is no way to build and keep an audience. I am soo tired of studio executives relying on Nielson Ratings to determine the fate of a show. Who watches a show in real time anyway? Far too many excellent shows have been cancelled due to this faulty thinking. I am not optimistic for a renewal, which is a real shame. I will continue to give my loyalty to pay cable channels where real… Read more »

The show was awesome on Monday, we are getting some meat to the story now and if the public gives it a chance, I guarantee that future episodes will bring many more viewers. The flashback junk is over, people are getting killed (sadly enough, but it draws viewers) and finally, we are finding out who these aliens are and what they want!!!

I LOVE The Event also! I do agree with Melodie that we need more about the aliens…but PLEEEEEZE give this show a chance to be great. Look at the first 2 seasons of Cheers, if they had quit on that show – it would have changed TV history. Not saying that this is in the same league, but I truly do think it has a serious cult following of those who love Fringe, V, True Blood and all of the Alien/Vampire/Conspiracy Theory shows. You can’t drop a show for that long and expect it to be great…that has killed MANY… Read more »

I really like this show, I really do, but couldn’t they have used that uber-long break to re-tool?
Less of the blonde daughter (so annoying!) and her boyfriend (please shave your pseudo-stache) and more with the aliens!

Love the show! It’s my second favorite show next to FRINGE. I hate the reality shows. I think what hurts these tv series are the long breaks between episodes. People forget what they saw previously and it’s not fresh in their mind.

I tried this show but it moved slow. I thought before i got into watching ANOTHER show that network TV would cancel I would not both with this one. It seemed to be Flashforward all over again. I figuered if it lasted I could watch DVDs & catch up next year. networks need to give shows a little more chance rather than cut & run so fast a lot of us don’t want to get involved since odds are a show will get canceled before it gets a chance to get an audience. I hope Network execs learn something before… Read more »

I personally really enjoy shows that have long-running storylines. But take, for instance, my husband. He doesn’t like shows like The Event because in order to stay on top of the show, he really has to watch the episodes every single week. He says it makes it feel like a job. On the other hand, many of the medical and legal dramas have plots that are neatly wrapped up after an hour. True, there are also sideplots that carry throughout the season, but the crux of the episode is dealt with in one night. I have a feeling there are… Read more »

Well, JJ isn’t really responsible for the LOST “burn.” But I agree, The Event is an amazing piece of work! The problem is NBC effectively canceling it last fall. You don’t put a show on a 13-week hiatus in the middle of the season unless you plan to cancel it. I’m surprised they bothered to promote the return at all, let alone as heavily as they did. The first hour should have been a re-cap show for new viewers. That’s how I got sucked into “V” last year after their long hiatus, and now I’m addicted to that show as… Read more »

I Love THE EVENT! I am so tired of the good dramas being canceled because people are too stupid to enjoy a good mystery/drama show.

I cannot stand all of the medical/legal/law shows….cant we watch SOMETHING else?! I would like to put alot of the blame on JJ Abrams for this…alot of people I know wont give the new msytery types shows a chance, because of how bad they got burned by LOST. I hate you, JJ.